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(No Model.) I f G. A. NORCROSS.

GAR GOVUPLING No. 529,045. Patented Nov. 13, 1.894.

` NYITED STATES PATENT A OFFICE.

GEORGE A. NORCROSS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OE SEVEN- TWELETHSTO W. E. SANDERS'AND J. O. SULLlVAN, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING. `V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,045, dated November13, 1894. Application iled April 27, 1894. Serial No. 509,269.(Nomodel.)

fo ttZZ whom t may concern:

Be tknown that I, GEORGE A. NoRcRoss,a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented a newand useful'Car- Coupling, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in car couplings.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofcar couplings, and to provide asimple and inexpensive one capable ofcoupling automatically and adapted to hold a link in horizontal positionto obviate the necessity of guiding the same by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide one in which theoperation of uncoupling may readily be performed without going betweencars.

The invention consists in the construction and novel-combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended..

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a carcoupling constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view, partly inlsection, showing` the invention applied toanother form of drawhead. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of thesame. Fig. l is a detail perspective View of the catch.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theigures of the drawings.

1 designates a draw-head, having a longitudinal link-opening 2, andprovided at its top with a vertical slot 3, communicating with thelink-opening 2, and receiving a verticallymovable catch 4, adapted toengage and confine a link for coupling similar to the ordinarycoupling-pin. The catch tapers generally toward its lower end 5, whichis pointed and normally rests in a recess or cavity 6 of the bottom ofthe draw-head in order to support the catch at that point. The frontedge of the catch has its upper portion 7 concavely-curved and its lowerportion 8 couvexly curved, and has an intermediate shoulder 9 locatedslightly below -the upper portion of the draw-head when the catch is inits normal position, and adapted `rough or bad road.

to engage the draw-head to prevent the catch .from being forced upwardby the link, which might be liable during the passage over a Theshoulder 9 of the catch is disposed horizontally, and the lower face ot'the top of the draw-head, directly in advance of the slot, ishorizontahto be engaged by the square shoulder 9, to form an absolutelock against upward movement. It' the link jerks upon the catch, ortends to force the latter upward, the front shoulder 9 will come incontact with the draw-head and prevent any further upward movement., andas soon as this tendency ceases the catch will drop backward to itsnormal position.

The rear edge of the catchhas its upper portion convexly curved and itslowerportion concavely curved, and the top of the catch is provided witha perforated lug 10, which may be connected with'any suitable means forenabling the catch to be lifted from the top and sides orplatform of acarto effect the operation of uncoupling.

In order to prevent the catch from being thrown out of the draw-headduring the operation of uncoupling, its vertical movement is limited bya transverse pin or bolt 11, which passes through the draw-head andwhich is arranged in a vertical opening 12, of the catch. This openingtapers slightly toward its lower end, the upper end being slightlyenlarged, and prevents any liability of the catch being accidentlyjerked out of the draw-head.

In order to hold the link in a horizontal position for guiding it intothe mouth of a t draw-head, to obviate the necessity of guiding the link,by hand, a sliding weight 13 1s mounted in the draw-head in rear of thecatch; it is provided with a longitudinal slot 14, and its movement islimited by a transverse pin or bolt 15, which prevents the weight frombecoming displaced when the catch is raised and a link is not in thedraw-head. The sliding weight is located in an inclined recess or way16, of the draw-head. It is 1ntroduced therein through the mouth of thedraw-head; and its front end contacts, at the top, with the catch, andis concavely curved at the lower portion at 17, to conform to theconguration of the link and to prevent an upward movement of theinnerend of thelink, whereby the latteris maintained in a horizontalposition. The rearwardly slidingr weight by being normally in contactwith the catch, holds the horizontal shoulder thereof in engagement withthe horizontal lower face of the upper portion of the draw-head.

The catch 4 is adapted to be applied to different kinds of 1draw-heads,and in Figs. 2 and 3 it is shown applied to one of the Janney type, andit is adapted for locking a knucklelS, which is pivotally mounted in thedraw-head 19 in the usual manner. In this form of draw-head the catchoperates in substantially the same manner as that before described, itbeing of course understood that the arm of the knuckle engages itsbeveled front lower portion to lift it for coupling, instead ot a link,as in the form before described. The lowerconvexly-curved portion Stormsthe bevel, which enables the catch to be readily lifted by either a linkor the arm of a knuckle.

It will be seen that the car coupling is exceedingly simple andinexpensive in construction,that it is automatic in its operation, andpositive and reliable, and that the verticallylnovable catch, whichsubserves the purposes of a coupling-pin, may be applied to dilerentkinds of draw-heads.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages ot this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-headhaving in its bottom a recess and provided at its top with a slot, andhaving the lower face of its top directly in advance of the slothorizontally disposed, a vertically movable catch located inthe slot ofthe drawhead and tapering toward its lower end and fitting in saidrecess, and provided at its front with a horizontally disposed shoulder,engaging the horizontal lower face of the top of the draw-head inadvance of the slot, and means for limiting the upward movement of thecatch, substantially as described. A

2. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided in its topwith aw slot and having a recess in its'bottom, a downwardlytaperingvertically-movable catch arranged in said slot and provided at its frontedge with a horizontally disposed shoulder ar ranged to engage the topof the draw-head, said catch being provided with a vertical opening, atransverse pin or bolt passing through the opening and limiting theupward movement of the catch, an inclined sliding weight mounted in thedraw-head and ar ranged at the back or in rear of the catch and bearingagainst the same and provided with a longitudinal slot and adapted toengage alink, and a fastening device passing through the slot of theweight and limiting its movement, substantially as described.

3. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head, provided in itstop with a slot, a vertically movable catch arranged in the slot of thedraw head, and provided at its front edge with a horizontal shoulderengaging the lower face ot the top ot the draw head, and a rearwardlysliding weight arranged at the back of the catch and engaging the same,whereby the shoulder is held in engagement with the draw head,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alxed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. N RCROSS.

Witnesses:

BERNHARDT WALL, Jr., CHRI EvERo.

